Current epidemiology and management of invasive candidiasis in infants

Invasive candidiasis (IC) is common in premature infants and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although the incidence of IC in infants is decreasing, there is marked variability in number of cases by center and geographical region, and current methods for diagnosis are suboptimal. Nonabsorbable antifungals, probiotics, and systemic antifungals have been shown to decrease IC in select populations. Although empirical antifungal therapy may provide benefit to infants with IC, prediction of the disease is difficult. While available antifungal agents appear to be effective in the treatment of IC in infants, knowledge of the optimal type, dose, and duration of antifungal therapy is limited by the low number of available infant studies. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media.

Duke Scholars

Author Kanecia Obie Zimmerman Pediatrics, Critical Care Medicine

Author Phillip Brian Smith Pediatrics, Neonatology